Written Answers Wednesday 26 September 2007

Scottish Executive

Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review section 64 of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, particularly in respect of the issues associated with moving people from hospital to nursing homes.

Fergus Ewing: Section 64 of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 amends the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (the 1968 act) to make explicit that where a local authority has, following an assessment of an adult’s needs, concluded that the adult requires any community care service, but is not capable of making decisions about the service, it may take any steps which it considers necessary to help the adult benefit from the service.

  A local authority has a duty under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 to apply for a court order where that is necessary for the protection of the property, financial affairs or personal welfare of the adult.

  Guidance to support local authorities in the use of their powers was issued on 30 March 2007 and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Civil/awi/latest-news/ccd5-2007. The Scottish Government has no plans to review section 64 itself, but will monitor local authorities’ use of their powers and duties under the 1968 and 2000 acts.

Agriculture

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the environmental benefits delivered by Rural Stewardship Scheme, Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and Organic Aid Scheme agreements will continue once existing agreements expire.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of funding will be made available to farmers and crofters who have carried out environmental management under Rural Stewardship Scheme, Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and Organic Aid Scheme agreements to continue such management.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-3256 on 18 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1357 by Richard Lochhead on 23 July 2007 and in light of Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department’s £54 million underspend in 2006-07, what its response is to the concerns of farmers and crofters who have been unable to access support under the Rural Stewardship Scheme and other agri-environmental schemes in 2006-07.

Richard Lochhead: The funding which was available to support agri-environment measures under the 2000-06 Scotland Rural Development Programme was fully allocated. Budget resources totalling £404 million have been allocated to fund agri-environment options in the 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme. £171 million of this sum will cover commitments under existing agri-environment agreements and £233 million will be available for new commitments which represents a significant increase on the total of £110 million which was available for new commitments under the last programme.

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage farmers and crofters, including new entrants, to apply for support under the Rural Stewardship Scheme and other agri-environmental schemes, in light of difficulties in accessing such support in previous years.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Stewardship Scheme closed to applications in 2006. Future support for agri-environment will be available through Rural Development Contracts under the new Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13. We are putting in place arrangements for the new programme which will give local stakeholders an opportunity to have input to the process for setting regional priorities. We will also assist potential applicants by providing an early indication whether particular types of proposal are more or less likely to be successful in securing funding.

Agriculture

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many workers are covered by the orders made by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Richard Lochhead: The number of workers employed in agriculture covered by the Orders made by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is 24,924. This is made up of 13,500 full-time and 11,424 part-time and seasonal workers. (Economic Report On Scottish Agriculture-2007 Edition)

  Information on the numbers of workers employed in horticulture and forestry who are covered by these Wages Orders is not held centrally.

Antisocial Behaviour

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with community groups during its review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy.

Fergus Ewing: The review is at an early stage and we have yet to hold discussions with community groups. The terms of reference for the review, which will outline the review process including engagement with local communities, will be announced shortly

  .Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions about its review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy have been held in Glasgow.

Fergus Ewing: I met with senior officers in Strathclyde Police and Glasgow Community and Safety Services in Glasgow on 10 July 2007 to discuss a range of community safety issues to help inform our review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy

  .Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions about antisocial behaviour have been held in the east end of Glasgow and how such discussions will feed into its review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy.

Fergus Ewing: I have yet to hold formal discussions about antisocial behaviour in the east end of Glasgow but have met with Glasgow Community and Safety Services and Strathclyde Police to canvass their views on issues relevant to communities across Glasgow. These early discussions raised stakeholder priorities for consideration as part of the review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy. Further consultation and community engagement is planned and will form part of the terms of reference for the review, which will be announced in due course.

Carers

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that carers receive necessary training.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that carers receive necessary training in handling and moving people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the invaluable contribution that unpaid carers make to Scottish society and the importance of training in helping carers to cope with their caring role. That is why we have said we will initially focus our efforts on carer training, as well as carer centre support, respite and support for young carers.

  As a signal of our intent, we have announced the allocation of £200,000, spread over this year and next, to expand piloting of carer training. We are working in partnership with the National Carer Organisations in taking this forward.

  In addition, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers is currently being funded by the Scottish Government to develop standard training materials for unpaid carers to help them to cope better with their caring role.

  At a local level, NHS Carer Information Strategies will also improve carer training. In line with the minimum requirements of these strategies, NHS boards must demonstrate the person-centred delivery of training for carers, covering advice on physical and emotional wellbeing. This should include demonstrations on moving and handling techniques, where appropriate.

  These strategies are now in place in every health board. They will be monitored annually to ensure that local support for carers, including the provision of carer training, continues to improve.

Civil Service Relocation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3944 by John Swinney on 11 September 2007, whether the fact that it has made decisions to base the new Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in Edinburgh and to cancel the planned relocation of NHS Health Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland to Glasgow means that it has now determined its policy on the location of public sector posts; if so, why it did not make an announcement to that effect and, if not, how it was able to make decisions on the location of offices in the absence of such a policy.

John Swinney: As noted in my answer to question S3W-3944 on 11 September 2007, the decisions on the location of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and the NHS Special Health Boards were taken on the basis of the specific considerations outlined in my answer. In both cases, early decisions were required to provide clarity to staff affected.

  I will make an announcement about the policy on the location of public sector posts once this has been determined.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Civil Service Relocation

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations await decisions on relocation under the Scottish Government’s relocation policy and how many posts are involved in each such organisation.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is still considering the future of the policy on location of public sector jobs and we have not yet determined how we will handle the location reviews begun but not completed by the previous administration.

  The organisations for which location reviews had begun but not been completed are Creative Scotland (130 staff) and the Scottish Funding Council (163 staff).

  The final locations of the Secretariat for the Scottish Charity Appeals Panel (c. four staff) and of the Co-operative Development Service (c.10 staff) also remain to be determined. In line with the previous administration’s decisions based on the specific circumstances of these two organisations, we do not propose to decide on the permanent locations of these bodies before 2008

  .Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been relocated to Scottish cities under the Scottish Government’s relocation policy in each year since 1999, broken down by city.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government holds details of the decisions taken by the previous administration under its relocation policy on how many posts were considered for relocation in each location review. Due to changes in organisational structures, the number of posts that have subsequently been located in different localities do not correspond exactly with the number of posts reviewed.

  A full list of relocation decisions made by previous ministers under the policy of the previous administration may be found on the Scottish Government website www.scotland.gov.uk.

  To date, the new Scottish Government has not taken the decision to relocate any Scottish Government staff from any of its existing locations. I will make an announcement of the future of the policy on the location of public sector jobs at a suitable juncture.

Community Justice

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about the future of the following community justice pilot schemes: community reparation orders, bail with electronic monitoring, first instance supervised attendance orders and structured deferred sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: The evaluation of the Community Reparation Order (CRO) pilots indicates that the penalties were not well understood or used, and we have therefore decided that the funding for the CRO pilots should stop at the end of December. The government remains committed to the principle of reparation, and as part of the review of community penalties we are currently considering the way in which reparative sentencing options as a whole are structured, with a view to proposing a more straightforward structure that will be simpler to understand and more attractive to sentencers.

  Independent evaluation of the electronic monitoring of bail pilots showed that this particular model of oversight while on bail was little used and of limited effectiveness. We have therefore also agreed that funding of the electronic monitoring of bail pilots should stop at the end of December. We believe that work currently under way to strengthen bail supervision will give a more effective and more widely used set of options for the courts.

  In order to allow the respective evaluations to be finalised, we have decided that funding for the Structured Deferred Sentences pilots should continue until the end of March 2008 and funding for first instance Supervised Attendance Orders should continue for a further 12 months, until the end of October 2008.

Community Wardens

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to maintain community warden schemes.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to expand community warden schemes.

Fergus Ewing: Scottish Executive funding to tackle antisocial behaviour is supporting community wardens in every local authority area in Scotland. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate funding across all their antisocial behaviour services, including community wardens, based on local needs and priorities. Future funding for antisocial behaviour services will be considered as part of the forthcoming spending review.

Constitution

Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the well-established legal principles are for setting down Scotland’s maritime boundaries and share of the continental shelf, as referred to in section 3.5 of Choosing Scotland’s Future: a National Conversation .

Richard Lochhead: The legal principles are set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This governs the maritime boundaries between nation states that have a coastline, including the continental shelf. Under the Convention coastal states exercise sovereignty over their territorial sea which they have the right to establish up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles from their coastal baseline. Coastal states also have sovereign rights to explore and exploit the continental shelf, which extends beyond their territorial sea. Article 76 of the Convention sets out the definition of the area of continental shelf that can be claimed and Article 83 sets out the manner in which states can agree the boundary between their respective areas.

Constitution

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place since May 2007 between its Transport Directorate and the UK Department for Transport regarding the devolution of further powers for the Scottish Parliament under UK marine legislation.

Richard Lochhead: There is regular dialogue between officials in the Scottish Government and a variety of UK government departments in relation to marine issues. In relation to the UK Marine Bill, it is the Marine Directorate who lead on engaging with Whitehall, and as indicated in my answer to question S3W-3981 on 18 September 2007 there is regular discussion of the legislative proposals in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Steering Group, which officials from the UK Department of Transport also attend. I am also actively engaged in dialogue with UK Ministers about the UK Marine Bill and the potential for further devolution of powers. I raised this for the first time when I met with ministers from the UK Government and the other devolved administrations in June.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Culture

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policies for Scotland’s languages will reflect the diversity and vigour of Scotland’s many dialects.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a strategy for Scotland’s languages.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to respond to submissions to the previous administration’s consultation on a strategy for Scotland’s languages.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to undertake any consultation on the development of a strategy for Scotland’s languages at either a national or local level.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government will seek to promote the richness and diversity of the languages spoken in Scotland in their different forms. Good progress is being made in a number of areas of language activity and promotion within Scotland and we intend to build on and strengthen this. The submissions to the previous administration’s consultation on a strategy for Scotland’s languages have been useful and helpful but Scottish ministers have no current plans to respond to these nor to develop or consult on a single strategy for all the languages spoken in Scotland.

Development

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to promote the decontamination of brownfield sites for redevelopment.

Richard Lochhead: Decontamination of brownfield sites is supported by our strategic objectives for a greener, wealthier and fairer Scotland and especially our commitment to work with local authorities to achieve more sustainable places where people can enjoy quality living. £18.2 million has been made available in 2007-08 to assist local authorities to carry out their responsibilities for dealing with contaminated land, some of which comprises brownfield sites earmarked for redevelopment. Funding in future years will be determined in the light of decisions emanating from the Strategic Spending Review later this year

Diabetes

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospital admission rate for diabetes was in Dundee in the last year for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.

Shona Robison: Table 1 presents the number and rates per 1,000 population of acute hospital admissions for Diabetes Mellitus, resident in Dundee City council area broken down by Intermediate Geographical Zone.Table 1. Number and Rates of Hospital Admissions for Diabetes Mellitus 1 , Resident in Dundee City Council Area; for Year Ending 31 March 2006

  

Intermediate Geographical Zone
Number of Admissions
Rate Per 1,000 Population


Dundee council area
2,073
14.58


S02000199 - Perth Road
44
8.21


S02000200 - Westend
31
4.85


S02000201 - City Centre
36
6.75


S02000202 - Logie and Blackness
49
9.82


S02000203 - Docks and Wellgate
62
13.66


S02000204 - Balgay
74
17.78


S02000205 - Menzieshill
118
25.15


S02000206 - Broughty Ferry Wes
65
12.56


S02000207 - Craigie and Craigiebank
98
23.66


S02000208 - Stobswell
70
14.09


S02000209 - Law
78
21.35


S02000210 - West Ferry
53
16.56


S02000211 - Hilltown
67
11.67


S02000212 - Barnhill
45
8.98


S02000213 - Broughty Ferry East
58
14.93


S02000214 - Lochee
102
18.81


S02000215 - Baxter Park
63
18.97


S02000216 - Charleston
47
11.70


S02000217 - The Glens
121
26.11


S02000218 - Douglas East
63
18.50


S02000219 - Fairmuir
85
19.15


S02000220 - Western Edge
18
5.84


S02000221 - Linlathen and Midcraigie
89
17.11


S02000222 - Douglas West
110
26.33


S02000223 - Caird Park
50
14.74


S02000224 - West Pitkerro
23
5.14


S02000225 - Ardler and St Marys
105
19.49


S02000226 - Whitfield
55
9.95


S02000227 - Downfield
48
9.49


S02000228 - Kirkton
79
20.10


S02000229 - Fintry
67
12.28



  Source: SMR01 linked database.Note: 1. Up to six diagnoses (one principal, five secondary) are recorded on SMR01 returns. All six positions have been used to look for admissions for Diabetes Mellitus. The following codes were used from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Other Health Related Problems, tenth revision (ICD10) to define this condition: E10 - E14.

Diabetes

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospital admission rate for diabetes was in Angus in the last year for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.

Shona Robison: Table 1 presents the number and rates per 1,000 population of acute hospital admissions for Diabetes Mellitus, resident in Angus council area broken down by Intermediate Geographical Zone.

  Table 1. Number and Rates Of Hospital Admissions for Diabetes Mellitus1, Resident in Angus Council Area; for Year Ending 31 March 2006

  

Intermediate Geographical Zone
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 population


Angus council area
1,264
11.58


S02000105 - Monifieth West
23
7.72


S02000106 - Monifieth East
66
13.51


S02000107 - Carnoustie West
45
9.66


S02000108 - Carnoustie East
55
9.77


S02000109 - Monikie
27
7.70


S02000110 - South Angus
50
8.28


S02000111 - Arbroath Keptie
39
10.84


S02000112 - Arbroath Harbour
94
22.66


S02000113 - Arbroath Kirkton
38
7.11


S02000114 - Arbroath Cliffburn
52
12.24


S02000115 - Arbroath Warddykes
89
18.25


S02000116 - Letham and Glamis
45
8.48


S02000117 - Kirriemuir Landward
48
16.91


S02000118 - Forfar West
36
7.26


S02000119 - Forfar Central
68
15.19


S02000120 - Forfar East
47
12.47


S02000121 - Lunan
30
10.60


S02000122 - Friockheim
62
9.53


S02000123 - Kirriemuir
75
12.65


S02000124 - Montrose South
81
15.94


S02000125 - Montrose North
55
12.08


S02000126 - Brechin East
47
16.66


S02000127 - Brechin West
41
11.60


S02000128 - Hillside
33
10.59


S02000129 - Angus Glens
18
5.09



  Source: SMR01 linked database.Note: 1. Up to six diagnoses (one principal, five secondary) are recorded on SMR01 returns. All six positions have been used to look for admissions for Diabetes Mellitus. The following codes were used from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Other Health Related Problems, tenth revision (ICD10) to define this condition: E10 - E14.

Digital Technology

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to combat digital exclusion in rural and remote areas.

John Swinney: We will work with partners to tackle the issues around the digital divide and ensure all citizens benefit from the opportunities technology can bring, including rural areas.

  For example, we are looking at ways of extending broadband availability to the less than 1% of households experiencing difficulties with broadband access. For those without access to a computer at home, the Library Service’s People’s Network and Learndirect Scotland learning centres provide access to computers and learning support across all areas of Scotland, and both offer outreach services to rural communities.

Disclosure Scotland

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how Disclosure Scotland rules apply to migrant workers from (a) outside and (b) inside EU states to guarantee that checks are safe and thorough.

Kenny MacAskill: Disclosure Scotland, who carry out criminal record checks on behalf of Scottish ministers, do not have access to information about the criminal records of foreign workers before they enter the United Kingdom. It is the responsibility of the person concerned to provide information from her or his home country if that is sought by an employer.

  We are working with colleagues elsewhere in the UK to give effect to a number of EU initiatives that should improve the sharing of information for employment purposes.

Environment

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the condition of machair grassland habitats designated under domestic and European nature conservation law, particularly unique arable machair sites, and what plans it has to further the conservation and management of such areas.

Michael Russell: The Site Condition Monitoring programme undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) assesses the condition of all sites protected under European Directives and those notified under domestic legislation. 53% of machair features were assessed as being in favourable condition. Of the SSSIs where arable and associated fallows form a significant contribution to the designated machair (i.e. Uists and Berneray only), 20% were in Favourable Condition and 80% in Unfavourable Condition.

  SNH reports that the reasons for this vary markedly between arable and non-arable sites. For arable machair sites, the most serious issues are thought to stem from a reduction in the number and diversity of flowering plants in the arable crop coupled with greater cultivated patch size. The former is believed to be linked to the use of herbicides, but other factors such as plough depth, the move towards higher yielding grain varieties and the use of inorganic fertiliser may also be having an impact.The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) (which we expect to secure European Union approval later this year) contains specific prescriptions to support the beneficial management of machair on designated sites and in the wider countryside. The SRDP also contains further options for managers of machair, including the Crofting Counties Agricultural grant Scheme, the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme and support to produce Specialist Plans which could be used to encourage beneficial management of the habitat.Scottish Natural Heritage (in partnership with RSPB Scotland) is funding preliminary work to scope the potential for a bid under the recently launched EC LIFE+ funding mechanism for a project to assist in planning conservation and management of machair habitats. This work is at an early stage but the outputs will form the basis against which future funding options may be considered.

Environment

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of Sustainable Development in Scotland: A review of progress by the Scottish Executive were printed; to whom they were distributed, and what the total cost was of (a) printing, design and associated costs and (b) delivery and distribution and associated costs.

Michael Russell: The review was published by the Sustainable Development Commission, which is a jointly established non-departmental public body with a UK-wide remit. The information requested is a matter for the commission and is not held by the Scottish Government.

Environment

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has provided to the Sustainable Development Commission Scotland in relation to expenditure on (a) advertising and (b) publications.

Michael Russell: None.

Environmental Justice

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be put in place to ensure that projects assisted under the Environmental Justice Fund can be satisfactorily completed even if unforeseen delays require spending to continue into 2008-09.

Michael Russell: We look to managers to ensure that projects are completed in line with the terms of our financial support. However, if exceptional and unforeseen circumstances arise which result in delay, we will look at each situation on a case-by-case basis.

Environmental Justice

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invite bids for funding from the Environmental Justice Fund for 2008-09.

Michael Russell: Plans will be considered once the outcome of the forthcoming Spending Review is known.

Health

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the (a) health, (b) economic and (c) wider societal costs arising from the increase in the number of people who are (i) overweight and (ii) obese through their impact on the burden of chronic illness and disability due to (A) diabetes, (B) heart disease, (C) arthritis and (D) other obesity-related conditions in each of the years since 2003, broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not made any assessment of the health, economic and wider societal costs arising from the increase in people who are overweight and obese through the impact on the burden of chronic disease and disability. However, we are aware of analysis carried out in this area which includes report from Glasgow University in 2003 on the costs to the NHS in Scotland of obesity ( Walker A. The Cost of Doing Nothing - the economics of obesity in Scotland. National Obesity Forum ), a report by the Health Select Committee of the UK Parliament and a report by the National Social marketing Centre: The Societal Costs of Potentially Preventable Illnesses: A Possible Approach (Lister et al 2006) .

  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmhealth/23/2302.htm.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any services provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde or the voluntary sector that are aimed at improving health and addressing health inequalities in West Dunbartonshire and are being considered for discontinuation.

Shona Robison: I am not aware of any such services, provided by these organisations, being considered for discontinuation. The services provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the voluntary sector are matters for them to determine in conjunction with local community planning partners.

  I am, however, aware that the West Dunbartonshire Healthy Living Initiative (HLI) will not be seeking alternative sources of funding when Big Lottery Fund monies cease shortly. The HLI’s core local initiatives that have been viewed as successful will be continuing with the support of the Community Health Partnership and other partners.

Older People

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospital admission rate was for older people in Dundee as a result of falls in the last year for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.

Nicola Sturgeon: Table 1 presents the number and rates per 1,000 population of acute hospital admissions as a result of a fall, for older people (65+), resident in Dundee City Council area, broken down by Intermediate Geographical Zone (IGZ).

  Number of Hospital Episodes1,2 and Crude Rate per 1,000 Population3 as a Result of a Fall4; by Intermediate Geographical Zone (IGZ)5; for People Aged 65 Years and Over Resident in Dundee City; for Financial Year of Discharge 2005-066

  

IGZ Name
IGZ Code
Number of Episodes
Crude Rate per 1,000


Perth Road
S02000199
7
26.52


Westend
S02000200
24
28.92


City Centre
S02000201
6
18.24


Logie and Blackness
S02000202
21
24.17


Docks and Wellgate
S02000203
16
31.13


Balgay
S02000204
13
13.66


Menzieshill
S02000205
18
21.53


Broughty Ferry Wes
S02000206
27
20.12


Craigie and Craigiebank
S02000207
31
21.74


Stobswell
S02000208
13
28.51


Law
S02000209
22
21.93


West Ferry
S02000210
14
14.71


Hilltown
S02000211
19
18.77


Barnhill
S02000212
16
16.24


Broughty Ferry East
S02000213
11
12.69


Lochee
S02000214
23
18.07


Baxter Park
S02000215
10
24.10


Charleston
S02000216
16
20.43


The Glens
S02000217
18
16.45


Douglas East
S02000218
13
21.00


Fairmuir
S02000219
18
16.41


Western Edge
S02000220
6
27.27


Linlathen and Midcraigie
S02000221
10
18.55


Douglas West
S02000222
14
20.35


Caird Park
S02000223
6
14.85


West Pitkerro
S02000224
8
31.25


Ardler and St Marys
S02000225
29
33.88


Whitfield
S02000226
5
17.48


Downfield
S02000227
10
12.95


Kirkton
S02000228
10
22.42


Fintry
S02000229
10
18.32


Dundee City
-
464
18.08



  Notes:

  1. These figures are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. The number of episodes does not necessarily reflect the number of individual patients admitted as one patient may be admitted multiple times throughout the year.

  3. Crude rate per 1,000 population calculated using GRO (General Registrar Office) mid-year population estimates of residents 65 years old or over.

  4. Hospital episodes as a results of a fall are defined by SMR01 admission type codes 33 to 35 (patient injury) and ICD-10 diagnosis codes W00.- to W19.- in any secondary diagnosis position.

  5. Only those data zones where there was at least one hospital admission are included in the table.

  6. Financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Older People

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospital admission rate was for older people in Angus as a result of falls in the last year for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.

Nicola Sturgeon: Table 1 presents the number and rates per 1,000 population of acute hospital admissions as a result of a fall, for older people (65+), resident in Angus Council area, broken down by Intermediate Geographical Zone (IGZ).

  Number of Hospital Episodes1,2 and Crude Rate per 1,000 Population3 as a Result of a Fall4; by Intermediate Geographical Zone (IGZ)5; for People Aged 65 Years and Over Resident in Angus; for Financial Year of Discharge 2005-066

  

IGZ Name
IGZ Code
Number of Episodes
Crude Rate per 1,000


Monifieth West
S02000105
14
22.40


Monifieth East
S02000106
22
18.20


Carnoustie West
S02000107
16
24.24


Carnoustie East
S02000108
19
17.42


Monikie
S02000109
6
15.71


South Angus
S02000110
14
17.18


Arbroath Keptie
S02000111
8
11.22


Arbroath Harbour
S02000112
19
19.37


Arbroath Kirkton
S02000113
11
12.97


Arbroath Cliffburn
S02000114
10
13.28


Arbroath Warddykes
S02000115
7
24.31


Letham and Glamis
S02000116
11
17.00


Kirriemuir Landward
S02000117
10
20.12


Forfar West
S02000118
9
13.12


Forfar Central
S02000119
18
21.00


Forfar East
S02000120
10
15.02


Lunan
S02000121
5
11.24


Friockheim
S02000122
12
12.96


Kirriemuir
S02000123
24
22.45


Montrose South
S02000124
23
21.34


Montrose North
S02000125
15
18.75


Brechin East
S02000126
9
16.85


Brechin West
S02000127
15
17.61


Hillside
S02000128
3
7.56


Angus Glens
S02000129
11
25.35


Angus
-
321
15.64



  Notes:

  1. These figures are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. The number of episodes does not necessarily reflect the number of individual patients admitted as one patient may be admitted multiple times throughout the year.

  3. Crude rate per 1,000 population calculated using GRO (General Registrar Office) mid-year population estimates of residents 65 years old or over.

  4. Hospital episodes as a results of a fall are defined by SMR01 admission type codes 33 to 35 (patient injury) and ICD-10 diagnosis codes W00.- to W19.- in any secondary diagnosis position.

  5. Only those data zones where there was at least one hospital admission are included in the table.

  6. Financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  7. These figures are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  8. The number of episodes does not necessarily reflect the number of individual patients admitted as one patient may be admitted multiple times throughout the year.

  9. Crude rate per 1,000 population calculated using GRO (General Registrar Office) mid-year population estimates of residents 65 years old or over.

  10. Hospital episodes as a results of a fall are defined by SMR01 admission type codes 33 to 35 (patient injury) and ICD-10 diagnosis codes W00.- to W19.- in any secondary diagnosis position.

  11. Only those data zones where there was at least one hospital admission are included in the table.

  12. Financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government published guidance earlier this year for health boards, Community Health Partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health.

  The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

  Research evidence indicates that up to 30% of falls amongst community-based older people could be prevented through comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.

Prison Service

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service has any plans to attend or participate in overseas conferences.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS will consider participation in conferences or other forums in the UK or elsewhere where we have something to contribute, something to learn or both.

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what appointments have been made to public bodies since 16 May 2007 and whether any such appointees have declared activity in any political party and, if so, which party in each case.

John Swinney: The following table provides the information requested in relation to the 44 appointments and re-appointments made by the Scottish ministers to public bodies regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland since 16 May 2007:

  

Public Body
Name of Appointee
Declared Political Activity


Executive NDPBs
 
 


Accounts Commission for Scotland
Michael Docherty
–


Highlands and Islands Enterprise
William Roe
–


Learning and Teaching Scotland
Prof. Douglas Weir
–


National Galleries of Scotland
Herbert CouttsCharles James Dawney
Labour–


Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care
Ijaz AshrafIan GibsonHelen BrownLinda DunionDouglas Hutchens
LabourLib Dem–––


Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
Prof. Brian CaddyHugh Stewart CampbellGerard McClay
–––


Scottish Enterprise
Ray PermanPat DenzlerFred HallsworthDouglas LambDonald MacRaeColin McClatchie
Labour–––––


Scottish Social Services Council
Garry CouttsKingsley ThomasMichael CairnsElizabeth CarmichaelKaren CroanMaureen O’Neill
IndependentLabour––––


Advisory NDPBs
 
 


Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
Dr Stephen Engleman
–


NHS Bodies
 
 


National Waiting Times Centre
Peter RamsayMairi BrownHilary MounfieldJim O’NeilKenneth Thomson
Conservative––––


Scottish Ambulance Service Board
William Brackenridge
Independent


Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board
Heather BrashMichael Keggans
––


Highland NHS Board
Colin Punler
Labour


Lanarkshire NHS Board
Margaret Nelson
–


Others
 
 


Parole Board for Scotland
Francis BrownCharles MilneAileen DevannyAndrew JonesJo KnoxDavid O'DonnellMoira RamageDavid Stewart 
ConservativeIndependent and Labour–––––


Total Number
44
12 



  This information is routinely published on the Scottish Government’s Public Bodies website at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.

Renewable Energy

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the proportion of electricity supplied to the national grid from generation by (a) wave and (b) tidal sources was on 14 August 2007 and what its estimate is for such generation by 14 August 2008.

Jim Mather: Statistics relating to electricity generated from renewable sources in Scotland are published by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The most recently published figures are available at www.berr.gov.uk/files/file34201.pdf . Figures for 2006 are due to be published during September 2007. Currently, generation from wind and wave are combined so that confidential information about individual sites is not disclosed.

  There has not to date been a detailed estimate of the level of generation from individual renewable technologies. However, the Marine Supply Obligation (MSO) which is part of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) previously set an illustrative path to achieving 75MW of wave and tidal power by 2015. The new government believes wave and tidal power has a more significant contribution to make and we are currently considering measures to support the further expansion of this sector.

Schools

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that the establishment of a Scottish futures trust, as promised in the SNP manifesto, will not cause the scheduled replacement of the Hill Mill Primary School building in Carluke to be postponed or cancelled.

Maureen Watt: The replacement of High Mill Primary School in Carluke is a matter for South Lanarkshire Council which has a statutory responsibility to provide and maintain school buildings.

  There are several procurement options open to public sector procuring bodies and it is their responsibility to assess which is most appropriate for any investment they are undertaking. As regards the Scottish Futures Trust, work on the design aspects is underway and we believe it will be able to deliver better value arrangements for major public infrastructure projects. We will make an announcement when we are ready to explain it in more detail.

Security Industry

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed security guards there have been in each year since 2001.

Kenny MacAskill: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the private security industry in Great Britain. Regulation began in England and Wales during 2004 and was extended to include Scotland in 2006. It will become mandatory here on 1 November 2007. The following table shows the number of licences issued by the SIA to applicants with Scottish addresses as at 14 September 2007.

  Total Number of Licences in Scotland at

  

 
3 April 2007
14 September 2007


Door Supervisors
215 
983 


Security Guards
740 
4,615 


CVIT
365 
783 


CCTV
76 
279 


CP
86 
128 


Key Holding
- 
-


All Sectors
1,482 
6,788

Security Industry

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Security Industry Authority licences have been (a) applied for and (b) awarded.

Kenny MacAskill: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has regulated the private security industry in England and Wales since 2004. Licensing in Scotland will become mandatory on 1 November 2007.

  The following table shows the number of applications received by the SIA on 14 September 2007 from applicants with Scottish addresses, the number awarded, the number refused and the number currently being processed. SIA licences are valid across Great Britain and it is possible that licences issued to people with English or Welsh addresses will be for work in Scotland.

  

Applied
9,973


Granted 
6,788


Refused
212


Being Processed
2,223


Received, but sent back to applicant for re-correction as application is incomplete
750

Security Industry

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unlicensed security guards have been recorded in each year since 2001.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not recorded.

Supermarkets

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to consult on changes to planning regulations to allow for a requirement on supermarkets that a proportion of goods stocked are sourced and delivered locally.

Richard Lochhead: We are currently giving consideration to the mechanisms which might allow us to deliver this commitment.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to abolish to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland and when this decision was publicly announced.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the abolition of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Structures in place to support the delivery of an administration’s objectives will naturally cease at the end of that administration. It is for the new Cabinet to decide on any new structures which should be established. A Greener Scotland is one of the Government’ five strategic objectives as outlined in Principles and Priorities: The Government’s Programme for Scotland, published on 5 September 2007. We are serious about making Scotland a more sustainable nation and will work with a range of external bodies in delivering that goal.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that (a) there is close co-ordination between ministers on sustainable development and (b) all ministers drive forward action on climate change and meet targets, in light of the abolition of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4067 on 20 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that 1.07% of failed tests for lead in consumer tap samples, shown in Table 3.4c of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2006, is too high.

Richard Lochhead: Lead is not normally present in water leaving water treatment works but it can be dissolved from old lead pipes that are sometimes present in older properties. Non-compliance with the lead standard therefore reflects the presence of lead plumbing in older properties rather than the quality of the water in the public supply. In order to reduce consumers’ exposure to lead in drinking water and to bring the quality of drinking water at the consumer’s tap into line with Scotland’s obligations under the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC), Scottish Water has embarked on an extensive programme to install treatment to minimise the uptake of lead from domestic plumbing in areas where there may be high numbers of properties with old lead pipes. The figures published for 2006 show an improved situation over those found in 2005 (1.20%) and the trend towards full compliance with the relevant lead standard in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 is being closely monitored by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR).

Water Services

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action local communities are required to take under the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 to secure water supplies and what funding is available to assist them in such action.

Michael Russell: The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 continue the role of local authorities set out in the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 and the previous Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 1992 to regulate private water supplies as part of their wider public health role. The overriding objective of the 2006 Regulations is to ensure the provision of clean and wholesome drinking water to those using such supplies.

  Where a supply fails to meet the water quality standards for drinking water as set down in the 2006 Regulations the local authority will advise the owners and users of the private water supply of appropriate remedial action they should take to improve their supply.

  The Scottish Government recognises the financial implications of the 2006 Regulations for some rural communities and businesses and a non-means tested Grant Scheme, administered by local authorities, was introduced at the same time as the 2006 Regulations to assist individuals and businesses invest in new equipment to improve their private supply.

Wildlife

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occupation of each person convicted of poisoning birds since May 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the occupation of persons proceeded against in Scottish courts is not held centrally.